Zion Williamson posted his second triple-double in two weeks on Tuesday night, but it wasn’t enough to impress Shaquille O’Neal.
The New Orleans Pelicans star had 22 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds to help his team snap a four-game slide with a 127-120 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.
Those 12 assists marked a career-high for Williamson, but despite his impressive output, Shaq suggested the ‘franchise player’ still isn’t delivering to the standard required.
“You giving him props for that? I need more,” the NBA legend said on TNT’s post-game show.
“I need 26, 27 (points). I demand from my franchise player to be playing at the maximum. Don’t be giving props for 20 points.
“Anybody can get 20 points now… that’s good, but that’s not good enough.
“I’m not impressed by that. You need to do more, Zion. I love you.”
Shaq went on to admit that Williamson’s numbers would be impressive if the Pelicans were ‘third or fourth’ in the Western Conference, but took issue with the team’s lack of consistency.
New Orleans have the second-worst record in the West, with 18 wins and 48 losses this season.
“The up and down Pelicans, I can’t have that from my franchise player,” Shaq added.
Despite that criticism, Williamson is showing an ability to take over games in spectacular fashion, in what is already viewed by many as a lost season.
He is said to be in the best shape of his career, with reports suggesting he has shed as many as 20 pounds from his listed weight of 284.
“When he makes his mind up that he’s going to attack, there’s really nothing teams can do,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said after victory over the Clippers.
“He’s been doing that lately, even in limited minutes.
“When he’s in high-level conditioning, like he is, he’s really tough to guard and he’s doing it all.
“He’s rebounding. He’s defending.”
The first triple-double of Williamson’s career came against the Phoenix Suns on February 28.
He put up 27 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds in the win, and followed that up less than two weeks later with an impressive showing against the playoff-contending Clippers.
In the fourth quarter, he became the first Pelicans player ever to record 10 points, five rebounds and five assists.
“Once I found that rhythm, I just kind of got in that zone,” the 6-foot-6 power forward said.
“I’d come too far to lose this game.”
Williamson has been plagued by injuries during much of his first six NBA seasons, and missed 27 straight games this season with a hamstring injury.
Right now, though, he is in fine form. And if he continues this run, he will surely put up the kind of numbers that impress Shaq moving forward.
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With the NBA hurtling towards playoff season next month, there’s plenty riding on the remaining games.
Reigning champions the Boston Celtics are chasing back-to-back titles, and will be the first team to do this since 2018 if they’re successful.
Meanwhile, LeBron James and Luka Dončić’s Lakers are looking to win LA’s first championship since 2020.
To watch the rest of this NBA season, sign up for an NBA League pass using the links below. NBA League pass allows subscribers to watch games live and on demand.
- Buy NBA League Pass – £79.99 for the season, £16.99 a month
- Buy NBA League Pass Premium – £104.99 for the season, £29.99 a month
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